Maple Leafs use compliance buyout on D Komisarek

The Toronto Maple Leafs have used a compliance buyout on defenceman Mike Komisarek removing his contract from their salary cap and making him an unrestricted free agent.

Komisarek has one-year and $3.5 million remaining on his five-year, $22.5 million contract, with a cap hit of $4.5 million.

The 31-year-old defenceman was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Leafs in 2009 and played parts of four seasons with the club.

During the lockout shortened 2012/13 season, Komisarek only appeared in four games with the Maple Leafs and did not register a point. He also played in seven games with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and was held pointless in those games as well.

The West Islip, New York native was drafted seventh overall in the first round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.